Engineering Design Challenges — Answer Key
Part A: Fill in the Blank
Write the missing word or number on each line.
1. A stopwatch measures how long something takes during an engineering trial.
Stopwatches give accurate time data so engineers can compare speeds across tests.
2. A scale measures how heavy an object is in grams or pounds.
Scales tell engineers the exact weight, helping them check load limits and balance.
3. Recycled materials like cardboard and bottle caps are great for cheap prototypes.
Bottle caps and tubes are free, sturdy, and easy to glue, tape, or stack.
4. A prototype is a first model engineers build to test their design idea.
Prototypes let engineers find flaws cheaply before building the final product.
5. In a fair test, only one variable is changed at a time so results are clear.
Changing only one variable shows exactly which factor caused the result change.
6. A safety goggles protect eyes from glue, paint, or flying small parts.
Safety goggles shield eyes from chemicals and debris during building or testing.
7. Hot glue guns melt sticks of plastic to bond materials quickly.
Hot glue dries fast and grips many materials, making it useful for prototypes.
8. A simple table helps an engineer record results from each trial in order.
Tables organize numbers so patterns and best designs are easy to spot quickly.
9. Before testing, engineers write a hypothesis predicting what will happen.
Hypotheses guide tests by stating what engineers expect and want to confirm.
Part B: Matching
Match each item on the left to the correct answer on the right.
1. Match each item to its correct answer.
Stopwatch
→ Measures time
Measures time
Scale
→ Measures weight
Measures weight
Ruler
→ Measures length
Measures length
Goggles
→ Protects eyes
Protects eyes
Picking the right tool gives accurate data so engineers can improve designs.